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AS IT HAPPENED: No Taoiseach elected as new lineup of TDs meets for first day of Dáil

Leo Varadkar, Micheál Martin, Mary Lou McDonald and Eamon Ryan have all been rejected by the house.

LAST UPDATE | 20 Feb 2020

ALMOST TWO WEEKS after the country went to the polls, the 33rd Dáil sat for the first time today.

TD’s voted to elect a Taoiseach and, as expected, Leo Varadkar, Micheál Martin, Mary Lou McDonald and Eamon Ryan were all rejected by the house.

The Fine Gael leader will travel to Áras an Uachtaráin to tender his resignation but will remain in place, along with the current cabinet, until a new Taoiseach is elected.

McDonald racked up the most votes as several independent and Solidarity-People Before Profit TDs backed the Sinn Féin leader.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl was re-elected as Ceann Comhairle.

Here’s some other pieces to get you up to speed:

So here we are. 

The only thing that’ll definitely happen today is the election of a new Ceann Comhairle.

It’s Fianna Fáil’s Seán Ó Feargháil – who has done the job since 2016 – against independent Denis Naughten. 

If Ó Feargháil wins, it’ll mean Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil would now be level in terms of the number of seats it has in the Dáil. 

Our political correspondent Christina Finn has more details on all of that for you here

What else should we keep an eye out for today?

Well the Healy-Raes made quite the entrance on the first day the Dáil sat in 2016.

TheJournal.ie / YouTube

Gah. Commentators’ curse.

Michael Healy Rae, at least, has gone for the low key approach this time around, Newstalk Shane Beatty has reported.

Our reporter Rónán Duffy is also down outside Leinster House.

He’s been speaking to Sinn Féin’s new TD for Roscommon-Galway Claire Kerrane.

She said: “I’ve been in here for the past three years working but today is a different capacity. I’m looking forward to it… It’s a great day for everyone.”

And Michael Healy Rae has been speaking to Rónán Duffy outside Leinster House. 

“The real negotiations will start to take place after the election of the Ceann Comhairle,” he says. 

“I hope over the coming days and weeks we start to see the emergence of a new government.”

Independent for Cork South West TD Michael Collins has also turned up and made an impromptu speech outside Leinster House.

Says that any politician who dares to turn their back on the people will have people turn on them also.

TDs do love to make their mark on their first day in the Dáil.

Spare a thought for Mary Mitchell O’Connor today, who inadvertently drove over the Dáil plinth on her first day in Leinster House in 2011.

An astute observation on O’Donoghue’s choice of vehicle from Green Party councillor Una Power here. 

There’s another new arrival across the city today.

And it’s a new baby rhino in Dublin Zoo.

Ain’t he lovely?

REPRO_FREE_DZ_RHINO_04 (1) Patrick Bolger Patrick Bolger

In more wholesome content, here’s new Fianna Fáil TD for Cork South West Christopher O’Sullivan on the way in with his mam.

Many of those who’ve arrived have brought lots of family and friends.

Here’s Richard O’Donoghue getting a lift after exiting the fancy car.

He says he wants to bring “common sense to government”.

Green Party TDs – and husband and wife – Catherine Martin and Francis Noel Duffy have arrived at Leinster House with their three children. 

They say they’re going to have to strike a work-life balance.

The Killorglin Pipe Band’s Seán Whelan is getting ready for the arrival of Danny Healy Rae, it seems.

And Sinn Féin has arrived to a massive media scrum.

ERNxFemXkAY7l-i Christina Finn / TheJournal.ie Christina Finn / TheJournal.ie / TheJournal.ie

And here they all are now.

ERNx2bBXkAAA4z1

Mary Lou McDonald is speaking to reporters.

Unlikely to be elected Taoiseach today, she’s said that she’s expected at least 37 votes from her party colleagues for the top job.

Without abstentions, 80 votes would be needed to become Taoiseach.

More from Mary Lou. She criticises Fianna Fáil “in particular” for not speaking to Sinn Féin about forming a new government. 

Danny Healy Rae has an accordion and is banging out a tune.

Updates to follow.

We’re just a few minutes away now until it all gets under way.

Firstly, the Clerk of the Dáil will read the Proclamation summoning Dáil Éireann,

Then the announcements of the members elected.

We won’t have the Ceann Comhairle election until around 12.25.

And then there’s a long-day ahead. Potential Taoisigh are nominated from 3.15pm and that vote held this evening. 

Our political correspondent Christina Finn has just informed me that a bird pooed on new Social Democrat TD Gary Gannon on his way in the door.

Good luck for him for the next Dáil term so!

The Dáil chamber is starting to fill up.

filling up dail

The Healy Raes are sitting in the same spot as they did in the last Dáil.

Micheál Martin is deep in conversation. Leo Varadkar hasn’t arrived yet.

helay

clerk

The clerk of the Dáil has arrived, we’ve a full house and we’re under way.

He says a prayer as Gaeilge and then in English.

A lot of initial formalities to get through now in the next few minutes.

Leo Varadkar and Simon Coveney just had a little joke about something, but I didn’t screenshot them laughing fast enough.

leo simon

So he’s about to issue writs for election of members and the announcement of members returned.

It’s basically listing the people elected. 

Here’s a live video of proceedings here.

They’re going alphabetically by constituency. 

We’re on the Cs.

It could take a while.

Here’s some more of the photos from outside Leinster House prior to the start of proceedings today.

2949 Dail Returns Leah Farrell / Rollingnews.ie Leah Farrell / Rollingnews.ie / Rollingnews.ie

5635 Dail Returns Leah Farrell / Rollingnews.ie Leah Farrell / Rollingnews.ie / Rollingnews.ie

5459 Dail Returns Leah Farrell / Rollingnews.ie Leah Farrell / Rollingnews.ie / Rollingnews.ie

We’ve just passed Sligo-Leitrim.

Almost finished listing out the 160 names.

restive

The next item of business is the selection of the Ceann Comhairle, via secret ballot.

It’s Seán Ó Feargháil vs Denis Naughten. As the incumbent Ceann Comhairle, Ó Feargháil may be best placed to retain the role. 

They’re both allowed to have a say first.

Naughten first.

denis naughten

Naughten welcomes the new TDs in the Dáil and says older heads can “share their experience”.

“I understand every perspective in this house because I have lived it,” he says. 

“I’ve been more than happy over the years to provide advice and assistance to new members, regardless of views.”

He says he’s putting his name forward because of the frustration over accountability he found on the doorsteps during the campaign.

“Getting straight answers to straight questions is getting more difficult in Dáil Éireann.”

naughten 2

Naughten says civil servants must be accountable to Dáil Éireann.

He says that in the case of the HSE, the only method of accountability is the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health or parliamentary questions that can take weeks.

“Sometimes the very last person to know is the TD whose constituents are directly affected,” he says.

Naughten says that GDPR is being used to avoid answering legitimate questions of TDs.

“It would be an honour to be Ceann Comhairle,” he says, saying it’d be a greater honour to allow TDs to seek answers and provide greater accountability. 

sean o f

Here’s Seán Ó Feargháil now. He congratulates the new members of the Dáil, as well as Dáil clerk Peter Finnegan and his team.

Of Naughten, he says competition is an “essential part of the democratic process”. 

Today he says he seeks a renewal of that mandate “hoping [his] work” over the last four years has shown his commitment to delivering essential reform.

Says the last Dáil was conducted in a more “collegiate” manner than ever before. 

sean o f 2

Ó Feargháil says he has helped build structures to help members in the drafting of legislation.

Other “absolutely critical” all-party committees on health, on housing and on the Travelling community has seen “us work well for common cause”, he says.

“We have engaged with the youth of this nation on the crucial issue of climate change,” he says. 

“I seek your support this afternoon to continue that collegiate approach,” he says. 

“We have challenges… I seek to build on the relationships made, the friendships formed,” Ó Feargháil.

“We’ve much important work left to undertake,” he closes, asking for members to vote for him as Ceann Comhairle.

Everyone claps. 

The bells are going to ring for six minutes now. After another four minutes, the secret ballot will commence.

clerk 1

Thanks Sean! Cónal Thomas here folks taking over from my colleague for the next while. 

Before the secret ballots commences, TDs take a minute to chat amongst themselves. There’s Tánaiste Simon Coveney speaking with outgoing Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin. 

Capture conalt conalt

So what happens now?

Well, voting takes place using the PR-STV system, so TDs will mark candidates in order of preference. They will vote in the privacy of specially erected polling booths in the voting lobbies just off the Dáil chamber.

Once all members have cast their votes the ballot will conclude and the Dáil will be suspended so the votes can be counted.

The quota is 50% plus one. Theoretically, if all members vote correctly (no spoiled ballots) then the quota is 80. As soon as a candidate has reached this threshold, they are deemed elected.

Once elected, the successful candidate’s name will be announced at the count centre, near the Seanad chamber.

The Dáil resumes and the election of the new Ceann Comhairle is formally put to the house. If 30 members call for a division then a vote must take place, but if there are fewer than this then the candidate is formally elected.

No other Dáil business may be conducted until a Ceann Comhairle is elected. 

Still plenty of milling about going on in the Dáil chamber. The voting is about to get underway. 

Capture

The doors are about to be closed. 

Before the voting begins, the Dáil clerk asks for confirmation that the ballot boxes are empty. There’s the Captain of the Guard checking now. 

And…they’re empty. 

Capture

TDs will now be issued with a ballot paper each and they’ll then proceed to the voting booths, eight of which are dotted around the chamber. 

Once they’re finished casting their votes, TDs must return to their seats. 

And off they go. 

Capture

Who will be the next Ceann Comhairle?

pjimage (15)

TDs form an orderly queue.

Capture

As voting continues, here’s a look back to Danny Healy-Rae and Co. entertaining the troops outside Leinster House earlier today. 

5572 Healy Rae Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie / RollingNews.ie

As TDs continue to cast their ballots, can you name the first ever Ceann Comhairle? 

That’s right, it was revolutionary leader Cathal Brugha, who served for only one day, presiding over the house’s symbolic first meeting, before leaving the post to become President of Dáil Eireann. 

cathal

“How many votes did they put in this thing?!”

Capture

So, the Dáil won’t be back until 3.10pm when we’ll know the result of the ballot to elect a Ceann Comhairle. 

The first business for the Ceann Comhairle is to seek nominations for the position of Taoiseach later today. 

The Ceann Comhairle will usually ask a member of the largest party in the House to nominate their party leader for the position of Taoiseach.

There’s Dáil Clerk Peter Finnegan with his staff now, readying for the counting of votes. 

Capture

Dáil Clerk Peter Finnegan says it’s time to count the votes for Ceann Comhairle. 

Capture

Down at Leinster House our Political Correspondent Christina Finn is hearing what Micheál has to say. 

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin sums up the people’s wishes – “They want action on housing, they want action on health and to alleviate the pressures people are under and they want to deal with the crisis of our generation, climate change.”

Back to the Oireachtas and Seán Ó Feargháil looks set to take up the mantle of Ceann Comhairle for another four years. 

Ó Feargháil received 130 votes with Naughten receiving 28 votes.  

The Ceann Comhairle is the chair of the Dáil and is expected to observe strict impartiality and keep order in the house.

Whoever is elected to the role is automatically re-elected to the next Dáil.

Ó Feargháil was Ceann Comhairle of the 32nd Dáil and was the first to be elected by secret ballot in 2016. Previously, the government of the day would simply choose who would take up the role. 

He was the first Fianna Fáil Ceann Comhairle to be elected since Seámus Kirk who held the post in the 30th Dáil between 2009 and 2011.

My colleague Christina Finn, meanwhile, has been chatting to TDs ahead of today’s vote on choosing a Taoiseach. 

Down at Leinster House, TD Richard Boyd Barrett has said that Solidarity-People Before Profit will vote for Mary Lou McDonald for Taoiseach.

“Our view is that there was a political earthquake that happened in this election and that earthquake demanded that there was a break in the cycle of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael rule,” he said.

“We think the only way to give effect to that clear demand of people is to establish a left minority government and the only realistic way of doing that would involve supporting Mary Lou McDonald as Taoiseach and ruling out any deals with Fianna Fail or Fine Gael to form a government.

“On that basis we are going to vote for Mary Lou McDonald as Taoiseach, but we want to make it clear we are not giving her a blank cheque, we are doing this in order to give effect to the demand to break the cycle of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael.

“We hope she will take our support in order to rule out any possible deal with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael.”

It’s all go down there today. 

And we’re back. 

Fianna Fáil TD Seán Ó Feargháil has been re-elected Ceann Comhairle and dons the robes for another term. 

Capture

After taking the chair Ó Feargháil gave a brief history of the Ceann Comhairle robes. He told the house that they were once the subject of a Freedom of Information request which found that they were so old that nobody knew who much they cost and they had never been dry cleaned.

Party leaders are now congratulating Ó Feargháil on his reelection. The Green Party’s Eamon Ryan thanked him for being an excellent Ceann Comhairle, noting that he never kicked anyone out during his first term. 

Ryan did offer a small bit of criticism, joking that Ó Feargháil has reduced the length of the minute of silence to about 11 seconds.

Leo Varadkar is the final person to congratulate Ó Feargháil. Introducing him, the Ceann Comhairle said: “A bit like the wedding feast of Cana, we now go to the Taoiseach”.

“I didn’t realise the Taoiseach was at the wedding feast of Cana,” Varadkar quipped in response.

Ó Feargháil thanked all the contributors for their kind words, saying he had to pinch himself at one point because he thought he was dead.

We’re now on to nominating people for Taoiseach and Fine Gael’s Bernard Durkan, the oldest member of the house, has nominated Leo Varadkar to continue in the role.

“He has discharged that office in the past with distinction, with honour, with courage,” Durkan said.

durkan

Making her maiden address to the Dáil, Fianna Fáil’s Norma Foley said she is “proud beyond measure” to nominate Micheál Martin for Taoiseach.

“If you look fairly at his record you will see that he has already achieved far more positive change than his loudest critics could ever hope to match,” she said.

foley

Martin’s nomination was seconded by the youngest member of the 33rd Dáil. 22-year-old James O’Connor, TD for Cork East.

Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty has nominated Mary Lou McDonald for the position of Taoiseach, giving an impassioned speech as gaeilge. 

“Nobody in this Dáil can lead this government for change other than Mary Lou McDonald,” he said.

Above all else she is an Irish republican and at this time that is what we need.

Claire Kerrane seconded McDonald’s nomination.

“As a republican woman there is no one I admire more than Mary Lou McDonald,” Kerrane said.

“We need change, we need something new, we need Mary Lou.”

mcdonald

The nominations continue with Dublin Fingal TD Joe O’Brien putting Green Party leader Eamon Ryan forward. “Eamon incapsulates a spirit that is essential for the 33rd Dáil if it is to succede,” O’Brien said.

Joan Collins of Independents 4 Change, Mick Barry of Solidarity–People Before Profit, Paul Murphy of RISE and independents Thomas Pringle and Catherine Connolly have told the chamber they will be backing Mary Lou McDonald for Taoiseach.

So the Sinn Féin leader looks set to secure the most votes later today.

The sitting is continuing with a range of politicians having their say on the election and the government formation talks.

Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae congratulated Sinn Féin on taking the initiative and trying to form a government. 

Richard Boyd Barrett confirmed that People Before Profit will also back McDonald.

Róisín Shortall said the Social Democrats would not be backing any of the candidates because it would be “meaningless” to do so without a programme for government agreed upon.

Several more TDs are in line to speak before the Dáil votes on the four nominations for Taoiseach. 

Danny Healy-Rae is currently paying tribute to his “army” of volunteers that helped him get reelected.

The story in the local papers was that Fianna Fáil smelled my blood. Well I still have all my blood… they were on the wrong scent.

Fianna Fáil’s John McGuinness said the Dáil should not adjourn for two weeks after today’s sitting. He also said that no party should be left out of the discussion about the future of the country.

Here’s more from our political correspondent Christina Finn in Leinster House:

Limerick independent Richard O’Donoghue has made a memorable maiden speech in Leinster House.

“How many of ye here have education of life? How many of ye have common sense? I do believe that an ounce of cop-on is better than a stone of brains,” he said.

O’Donoghue also demanded that the next government respects rural Ireland.

Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl has revealed that there are nine further speakers before voting can take place. He urged the remaining speakers to be mindful that the voting will take some time as well.

We’ll be here for a while yet.

Fianna Fáil’s Jennifer Murnane O’Connor has quoted CS Lewis saying: “There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.”

Hopefully she was talking about this Dáil sitting.

Kerry TD Brendan Griffin has welcomed all the new deputies to the Dáil by noting that many eminent writers have been quoted in the chamber today.

“I’m going to quote Axel Rose,” he said. “Welcome to the jungle.”

The Fine Gael junior minister also hinted that the 33rd Dáil might be a short lived one. “We don’t know whether to put the posters in front of, or behind, the turf shed yet,” he said.

Griffin also referred to an earlier contribution from his fellow Kerry TD Danny Healy-Rae, who said that he had 162 volunteers out canvassing for him on one night during the election campaign. Griffin said he had 163 people out on the same evening.

A busy night in Kerry.

Independent TD for Galway West Noel Grealish says he “will not sit on the fence” this evening and will vote in favour of Fianna Fáil’s Micheál Martin for Taoiseach.

“People want us to get on with it and form a government,” the former Progressive Democrat said.

Independent Waterford TD Matt Shanahan said he will not be supporting any of the four candidates for Taoiseach as a mark of protest over restrictions on cardiac services in the south east.

Contributions from deputies are expected to wrap up soon after which we’ll have a four votes on Taoiseach candidates.

To catch up on all the antics as 48 new TDs entered the Dáil for the first time check out this piece from Rónán Duffy:

Fianna Fáil’s Mary Butler was the final speaker ahead of the votes. Varadkar is first up. If, as expected, he is not elected he will travel to Áras an Uachtaráin to tender his resignation. 

The bells have been rung and the voting is underway.

vote

The chamber is filling up and the result of the vote on Leo Varadkar for Taoiseach is expected shortly.

Fine Gael only has 35 TDs so he’s expected to fall far short of the required 80 votes.

chamber

Deputies are now filing through the lobbies. There’s quite a bit of a backlog in the Níl lobby so the vote on Varadkar for Taoiseach looks set to be comfortably defeated.

nil

The result is: 

Tá – 36

Níl – 107

The proposal on Varadkar for Taoiseach has been defeated.

TheJournal.ie‘s political correspondent Christina Finn reports that the Social Democrats abstained from the vote, as did independent TDs Cathal Berry and Pat Shanahan.

Galway East independent Sean Canney backed Varadkar, bringing his number up to 36. 

Varadkar will travel to Áras an Uachtaráin to tender his resignation but will remain in place until a new Taoiseach is elected.

TD’s are now voting on Micheál Martin for Taoiseach. Again this vote looks set to be comfortably defeated.

Independent Noel Grealish earlier indicated that he would join the 37 Fianna Fáil TDs in backing Martin.

martin

Sean Canney has backed another horse. 

Result:

Tá – 41

Níl – 97

Abstentions – 19

Not near enough to see Martin elected. The house will now vote on McDonald.

Meanwhile, away from Taoiseach votes, a new technical parliamentary grouping has been established.

Nine TDs from across the country have agreed to come together to establish ‘The Regional Group’.

the group’s members are: Cathal Berry, Sean Canney, Peter Fitzpatrick, Noel Grealish, Michael Lowry, Verona Murphy, Denis Naughten, Matt Shanahan and Peadar Toibin.

Convener Denis Naughten said:

This group will operate as a technical group in Dáil Eireann for speaking time and the scheduling of parliamentary business.

“The group was established following the decision by Dáil Eireann today to establish a business committee to progress the day-to-day operation of parliamentary business.”

The result of the vote on McDonald for Taoiseach is in:

Tá – 45

Níl – 84

Abstentions – 29

McDonald racked up more votes than her Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael counterparts, who got 41 and 36 respectively.

It still isn’t anywhere near enough to see her elected.

Scenes in Leinster House as we nearly had an accidental Taoiseach. Virgin Media’s Gavan Reilly has the news:

The result of the vote on Ryan for Taoiseach is in:

Tá – 12

Níl – 115

Abstentions – 28

No Taoiseach has been elected in the first sitting of the 33rd Dáil.

The four defeated nominees will now make contributions. Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked them to be mindful that we are running way over time.

Varadkar is speaking first. When this sitting finishes he will travel to Áras an Uachtaráin to tender his resignation.

leo

Varadkar says he will travel to the White House for the annual St Patrick’s Day visit if no government has been formed by then.

However, he says it will be a shortened trip as the Taoiseach will have to travel back to Europe to attend an important EU Council meeting.

He paid tribute to the ministers who lost their seats in the election but said he knows they will continue to lead their departments with “good grace and competence”.

Micheál Martin dedicated a significant chunk of his remarks to criticising Sinn Féin, accusing the party of glorifying the IRA.

“I see we still live rent free in Micheál Martin’s very narrow and bitter mind,” McDonald said in an equally lengthty and excoriating response.

“I have significant concerns with a leader who sat around a cabinet table with people who were subsequently jailed for corruption,” she added.

mary-lou-2222

So that’s it from the first day of the 33rd Dáil. It was a day that saw 48 new TDs attend Leinster House for the first time, but a new government still looks quite a distance away.

The house will reconvene in early March and the political horse trading will continue in public and behind the scenes.

Check out TheJournal.ie for all the important developments and thanks for following this evening.

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    Mute Andrew H
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    Feb 20th 2020, 11:19 AM

    Closed comments on the sulky race story. That’s the journal and pavee point quiet on the issue.

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    Mute Goban Saor
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    Feb 20th 2020, 11:35 AM

    @Andrew H: big mouth John Connors had a lot to say recently. Surely he’ll have some insight?

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    Mute Fiona Ryan
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    Feb 20th 2020, 11:43 AM

    @Andrew H: but it’s their culture. Their ethnicity allows them to break the laws that the rest of us would be fecked into jail for. When will this stop? When some judges child is injured or worse?? Is that what our judicial system is waiting for??

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    Mute Shane Cormican
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    Feb 20th 2020, 1:14 PM

    @Andrew H: Well the guards are investigating – emmm there are numbers plates and cameras on that road any of the cars driving along with people hanging out of them should be at least questioned – that would be a start!

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    Mute Link
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    Feb 20th 2020, 2:07 PM

    @Goban Saor: As much as I disagree with Connors on many things, he’s fairly vocal in his disdain for the crowd from Pavee Pointless

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    Mute Cormac Laffan
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    Feb 20th 2020, 3:55 PM

    @Andrew H: They asked for a comment but the participants were sulking.
    Anyway it’s racist to ask about the sulky race.

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    Mute john
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    Feb 20th 2020, 11:35 AM

    ISPCA shocked and appalled and that’s the last we’ll hear of it! Must be great living with impunity outside the law and completely untouchable, tiz a great country once your not a law abiding citizen!!

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    Mute The Risen
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    Feb 20th 2020, 10:49 AM

    Looking forward to seeing Leo and Meholes faces. Refusing to talk to the party who got the most votes isn’t going down well with voters.

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    Mute iohanx
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    Feb 20th 2020, 11:49 AM

    @The Risen:

    ‘Meholes’, I guess that sums up your intellect on the matter.

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    Mute Manbackonboard
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    Feb 20th 2020, 12:06 PM

    @The Risen: You consistently let yourself down with that type of language.

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    Mute Paul O'Sullivan
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    Feb 20th 2020, 12:10 PM

    @The Risen: I would’ve to see your face in a few weeks when Mehole is made Taoiseach

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    Mute Frank Cauldhame
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    Feb 20th 2020, 12:11 PM

    @iohanx: Its a well earned nickname that has really caught on over the years, a good analogy would be “Fingers” Fingleton

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    Mute Gerald Gallagher
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    Feb 20th 2020, 2:53 PM

    @The Risen: sweet Jesus I hope so as Mehloes idea of change looking more like the last 4years plus the greens

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    Mute Cormac Laffan
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    Feb 20th 2020, 3:52 PM

    @Manbackonboard:
    Lol.. well earned moniker, the smell of desperation off the man even comes across on TV.
    Mehole MoreTan , go twitch on that one

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    Mute Mairtin Antaine O Conaill
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    Feb 20th 2020, 4:49 PM

    @The Risen: you really are clueless.

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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Feb 20th 2020, 5:14 PM

    @The Risen: #bekind

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    Mute smart cat
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    Feb 20th 2020, 6:04 PM

    @The Risen: ah Mary Lou a god send !!!. I very much doubt it.

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    Mute Cormac Laffan
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    Feb 20th 2020, 6:34 PM

    @Paul Furey:
    #bekind #DonateaBedtoYourLocalHospital
    #CelebrateYour40thatHomecosulivethere
    #FFG ETC
    #TheGreatCollusion

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    Mute Rollander
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    Feb 20th 2020, 7:08 PM

    @The Risen: It’ll go well with those who voted for them, because it’s the FF and FG mandate to not go into government with SF.
    But you keep going on with your will of the people shite,

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    Mute Ed Byrne
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    Feb 21st 2020, 1:14 AM

    @iohanx: what?????

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    Mute Sharp Elsi Mate
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    Feb 20th 2020, 11:59 AM

    Oh and absolute disgrace that the comments are closed on the sulky race. They do not deserve any less judgement from your users just because its their culture!

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    Mute Neil McAuley
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    Feb 20th 2020, 11:23 AM

    Extremely demoralising to watch the coverage of this and the antics of the Healy Rae’s and that clown from Limerick. They should get in to Dail and get on with the job. The election happened almost 2 weeks ago and there has been no progress on govt formation. This country is a joke !!!

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    Mute Keith ☘️
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    Feb 20th 2020, 11:26 AM

    @Neil McAuley: relax Neil. The children’s hospital wasn’t built in a day

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    Mute Martin McFly
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    Feb 20th 2020, 11:54 AM

    @Neil McAuley: relax Neil. Don’t be so doom and gloom. Let them get on with it and keep your moaning out of it!!

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    Mute Neil McAuley
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    Feb 20th 2020, 12:01 PM

    @Martin McFly: as its reasonable, I’ll do and say what I want. HOW DARE YOU !!!!!

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    Mute Tadhg Keating
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    Feb 20th 2020, 12:06 PM

    @Neil McAuley: That “clown” from Limerick is one of the hardest working politicians in the country which is why we elected him. As for the car, he is a member of a vintage car club and thought it would be a nice way to represent them. Lighten up a bit

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    Mute Neil McAuley
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    Feb 20th 2020, 12:12 PM

    @Tadhg Keating: how do u know how hard other politicians throughout the country work? I notice the people of Limerick County returned an FF, FG and a former FF politician Pretty uninspiring stuff.

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    Mute NotMyIreland
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    Feb 20th 2020, 12:46 PM

    @Neil McAuley: as is their right to? Thats democracy at work

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    Mute Martin McFly
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    Feb 20th 2020, 12:48 PM

    @Neil McAuley: ohh no, the caps are out. Punishment beatings next.

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    Mute Neil McAuley
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    Feb 20th 2020, 12:59 PM

    @NotMyIreland: of course it’s their right and democracy. All fair enough. Just said uninspiring and there’s no denying that.

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    Mute Neil McAuley
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    Feb 20th 2020, 1:01 PM

    @Martin McFly:

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    Mute NotMyIreland
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    Feb 20th 2020, 3:11 PM

    @Neil McAuley: Uninspiring for your views, not those of the people of Limerick I would imagine.

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    Mute Neil McAuley
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    Feb 20th 2020, 3:40 PM

    @NotMyIreland: hahaha.

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    Mute Tadhg Keating
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    Feb 20th 2020, 3:51 PM

    @Neil McAuley: Thankful Richard saw of the Moon landing Denying Sinn Fein candidate in the final Count. That Vintage Car club raises money for Local Charities In Limerick so what harm if he used today to promote it a little, A very worthy cause.

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    Mute Cormac Laffan
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    Feb 20th 2020, 4:48 PM

    @Neil McAuley: Damn right Neil, there’s only a few combinations that work.
    The Oscars are over, the results are in, get back to work ye shower of wasters!

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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Feb 20th 2020, 5:15 PM

    @Neil McAuley: you need to relax and accept that very few think the way you do.

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    Mute Neil McAuley
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    Feb 20th 2020, 7:29 PM

    @Paul Furey: am feeling quite relaxed actually thanks. Most people would agree with my sentiments and that’s certainly the case on here, as evidenced by numerous comments that have been posted. cheers.

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    Mute Manbackonboard
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    Feb 20th 2020, 10:24 AM

    In other news I’ve just painted the outside of my house. As the weather is so damp it’s going to take hours to dry. Enjoy.
    https://youtu.be/PLOPygVcaVE
    Thanks.

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    Mute JohnnyMc
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    Feb 20th 2020, 10:33 AM

    @Manbackonboard: I’ll raise you
    https://youtu.be/kiXY7ynw6ek

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    Mute Manbackonboard
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    Feb 20th 2020, 11:42 AM

    @JohnnyMc: Brilliant!!

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    Mute hasnooneasked
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    Feb 20th 2020, 11:27 AM

    That reada cronin should be removed from the dail aling with a few others who should not be there. If our country hasnt gone down the pan it will now with sinn fein

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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Feb 20th 2020, 5:16 PM

    @hasnooneasked: ask the voters why they exercised their democratic right and elected them. You know how it works? Right?

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    Mute Bernard Sweeney
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    Feb 20th 2020, 9:52 PM

    @Paul Furey: I’ll tell ya something, those of a non SF persuasion that voted for her in protest at fffg may have decided differently where there 1 or 2 went if these tweets were publicised during the campaign.

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    Mute Tricia G
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    Feb 20th 2020, 11:23 AM

    You really do seem to have to have an increased level of arrogance and self-belief to be a politician.

    What a ridiculous spectacle.

    Most people beginning a new job don’t arrive with such nonsensical fanfare.

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    Mute milton friedman
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    Feb 20th 2020, 11:34 AM

    @Tricia G: I’m praying for another General Election and the people of Limerick need to not vote again for the TD who arrived in the limo.

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    Mute Tadhg Keating
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    Feb 20th 2020, 12:07 PM

    @Tricia G: You can pray all you want, we will still elect him! We reward Hard working people in Limerick.

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    Mute Tricia G
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    Feb 20th 2020, 12:13 PM

    Think there is a bug in the Journal “reply” function there Tadgh

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    Mute Lotus
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    Feb 20th 2020, 12:34 PM

    @Tricia G:
    He has actually been a very effective Councillor with excellent feedback from people in rural Limerick. Hence he was elected to the Dáil.

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    Mute Tedburns
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    Feb 20th 2020, 5:15 PM

    @Tadhg Keating: like willie odea and his Galway tent merchants?

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    Mute Sharp Elsi Mate
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    Feb 20th 2020, 11:56 AM

    Is it not all a bit farcical? Get in and make a government and fix the legacy problems that are health and homelessness. American cars and accordions are ya for real?

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    Mute Paul Shepherd
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    Feb 20th 2020, 6:10 PM

    Complete time wasting exercise. Just turning up to justify their expenses at this stage.

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    Mute d
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    Feb 20th 2020, 6:35 PM

    Will ye all stop…Can ye not see the agenda here.The longer this pans out, Leo will get his pension and suddenly voila we will have a government

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    Mute john
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    Feb 20th 2020, 11:27 AM

    Beat me to it Andrew H!

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    Mute Big Red
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    Feb 20th 2020, 9:38 PM

    #shinnersout

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    Mute Bluechip78
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    Feb 20th 2020, 6:55 PM

    Anyone counting the votes to make sure they’re actually in the chamber

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    Mute Brian Purcell
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    Feb 20th 2020, 5:38 PM

    No surprises SOC’s are now labour in disguise – so much for change

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    Mute Lesidees
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    Feb 20th 2020, 6:00 PM

    What a waste of time! Why don’t they just get on with electing a Taoiseach? None of their speeches make a blind bit of difference to how TDs are going to vote

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    Mute UCC Social Democrats Society
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    Feb 20th 2020, 10:38 PM

    The business in hand is the election of a Taoiseach. The Social Democrats will not be supporting any candidate because we believe it is meaningless for us to do so in the absence of a negotiated and agreed programme for Government. We are very clear and have said over the past week that this is not a personality or popularity contest. It has to be about the policies that respond to what the public has said to us in the past week. It is about having an agreed policy platform that will lead to a programme for Government.
    Unable to post links, but that was taken from the Oireachtas’ Site, which was Deputy Shorthall’s Statement.

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    Mute Kevin Lonergan
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    Feb 21st 2020, 3:00 PM

    @UCC Social Democrats Society: Your party should climb down off of the fence and make a stand one way or another. Just sitting on your hands as you try to figure out which way the wind is blowing and where you might get more cabinet positions is just wrong. Have some principles and stand for something FFS!!

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    Mute Lesidees
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    Feb 20th 2020, 7:18 PM

    How can each vote take so long?

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    Mute Billy Mulvihill
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    Feb 20th 2020, 6:19 PM

    FF and SF plus Greens vote for Eamon Ryan for Taoiseach and let them form a Government.
    FF can say it was formed by the Greens.
    Then we can say it’s change

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    Mute d
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    Feb 20th 2020, 6:30 PM

    Will ye all stop..can you not see the agenda here..the longer this plays out….Leo will get his pension…and then suddenly we will have a government.

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    Mute Connoroconner
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    Feb 20th 2020, 6:50 PM

    @d: that’s going to be a long time then, Leo doesn’t get his pension till he’s 65.

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    Mute d
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    Feb 20th 2020, 7:06 PM

    @Connoroconner: yup but in a couple of weeks he will qualify for the taoiseach pension….courtesy of us

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    Mute Connoroconner
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    Feb 20th 2020, 7:40 PM

    @d: ah ok

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    Mute Diogenes
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    Feb 20th 2020, 10:32 PM

    Leo the lame Lama

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    Mute Ro-your-nan
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    Feb 20th 2020, 9:51 PM

    The barbarians never take a city until someone opens the gates for them. In this case it’s people voting for the populists – just look at two of the recent examples of the kind of language coming from these people. Depressing.

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    Mute Ed Byrne
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    Feb 21st 2020, 1:17 AM

    The amount of ‘anti shinner’ people on here that reply to comments but won’t have a comment of their is interesting…. Can anybody explain why?

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    Mute Wayne Smith
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    Feb 20th 2020, 10:56 PM

    bunch of arseholes

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    Mute Emmaa69
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    Feb 21st 2020, 12:20 PM

    ..

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    Mute Emmaa69
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    Feb 21st 2020, 11:47 AM

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    Mute Susan O'flaherty
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    Feb 21st 2020, 8:14 AM

    Gerry now part of sinn fein negotiations team. Definitely glad I didnt vote for sf

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